WORCESTER, Mass. -- Junior guard Melvin Evans (Bronx, N.Y.) had team-highs of 15 points, seven assists and five steals and matched the team bes with seven rebounds as Caldwell men's basketball took a 77-71 verdict over Saint Michael's in the lid lifter for both teams on Friday at the Assumption Tip-Off Classic at Andrew Laska Gym. The Purple Knights came into the contest ranked 23rd in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' (NABC) preseason national poll and No. 1 in the D2CSC East Region rankings.

After the Purple Knights (0-1) jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the first seven minutes of the game, baskets by Evans, sophomore guard Isaiah Philbert (Bronx, N.Y.), freshman swingman De'Angelo Horn (Castle Rock, Colo.) and junior forward Moussa Ngom (Dakar, Senegal), followed by a three by Philbert put the Cougars up. Caldwell would extend to as much as a 10-point advantage before settling for a 36-28 edge at the intermission.

St. Michael's would cut its deficit to two at 42-40 five minutes into the second half, but a decisive 19-4 run that included two baskets by Ngom, who finished with eight points, a basket and two threes by junior guard Kirk Parsons (Newark, N.J.) gave CU its largest lead at 61-46, and though SMC would get back to within 73-71 with 0:12 left, two free throws by senior guard Mark Heber (Paterson, N.J.) and Horn iced it.

Parsons totaled 14 points and six assists, Horn added 12 and senior forward Derrick bueno (Palisades Park, N.J.) pitched in 10 points and seven boards in 19 minutes. Ngom contributed seven rebounds as well.

The Cougars (1-0) continue play in the tournament on Saturday, taking on the host Greyhounds at 4 p.m.